Polishing apparatus for floors and similar surfaces



I March 18, 1947. SQDERBERGV 2,417,620

POLISHING APPARATUS FOR FLOORS AND SIMILAR SURFACES Filed Dec. 22, 1944. 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVTOR. 9 AM. ].5ocl.r berg March 18, 1947.

G. J. SODERBERG ,417,620

POLISHING APPARATUS FOR FLOORS AND SIMILAR SURFACES Fil d Dec. 22, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 -m LuH IWFJVTOR. I Gustave Soda/berg BY TTOff/W March 1-8 1947; G. J. SODERBERG POLISHING APPARATUS FOR FLOORS AND SIMILAR SURFACES Filed Dec. 22, 17944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 uw rnw INVENTOR. Gustave]. soderber q BY 3 G. J. SODERBERG 5 Sheet s-Sheet 4 POLISHING APPARATUS FOR FLOORS AND SIMILAR SURFACES March 18, 1947.

Filed Dec. 22, 1944 INVENTOR. gusfave Soderber March 18, 1947- a. J.'$ODERBERG POLISHING APPARATUS FOR FLOORS AND SIMILAR SURFACES I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 1m. 22, 1944 Patented Mar. 18, 1941 POLISHING APPARATUS FOR FLOORS AND SIMILAR SURFACES Gustave J. S oderberg, Babylon, N. Y. Application December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,293

This invention relates to polishing apparatus and refers, more particularly, to an..electrically operated polishing disc, means for affixing same to a drive shaft, and a mounting by which thepolisher may be adapted for use on floors or similar surfaces.

An objectof the present invention is to pro-- vide a fastening means for attaching a soft polishing disc to a driving shaft in a manner suited to use in the home.- Such a fastening should not run through to the face of the disc, and should have no projecting parts capable of catching in clothing.

Another object is to provide a cheap and serviceable polishing disc for use with a light electric motor.

Another object is the provision of attachments to the polisher by which it may be used to polish floors and similar surfaces. 'Other objects will become apparent from the following specification.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention, a length of cotton piling, or similar material, in fringe form is sewn spirally to the face of a disc composed of layers of felt, canvas and buckram in any desired combination. To the rear of the disc is sewn or otherwise fastened a substantially U shaped tab of stiif textile material extending perpendicularly therefrom. A tab gripper in the form of a rectangular case with the lower end open fits over the tab and has a thumb nut extending through the flat sides of the case and adapted to draw the sides together by being turned through part of a revolution. The tab gripper is directly coupled to the drive shaft in any convenient manner and completely covered by a skirt slidably mounted on the shaft.

In operation the tab gripper is slid down over the tab and tightened by a partial revolution of the thumb nut, thereby gripping the tab firmly. The skirt is then slid down over the gripper and fixed in position by a threaded engagement with the shaft orotherwise.

The apparatus is adapted for use on floors, etc., by a pair of wheels mounted abreast and apart on a bracket extending downwardly and rearwardly from the motor, and a long handle interchangeable with the strap handle of the polisher. The two handles are removably attached to the motor by interengaging lugs and a slotted lug engaging a stud and thumbnut.

The wheels are removably attached by two slotted lugs engaging studs and thumbnuts.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in consideration with the accompanying drawings 6 Claims. (CI. 15-98) showing, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hand polisher embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the long handle and wheels in place.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, .partly in section along the line 4--4 of Fig. 1, of the polishing disc and fastening means.

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a section along the line 1-4 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the tab gripper. Fig. 9 is a detail of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a similar view with the thumb nut revolved a quarter turn.

Fig. 11 is a drive shaft.

Fig. 14 is a top view of Fig. 12 is a section along the line I2-l2 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 1.3 is a perspective view of the polishing disc.

the rear layer of fabric of the polishing disc before being folded to form the tab.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged side elevation of the device with the strap handle attached.

Fig. 16 is a top elevation of the motor showing the handle fittings, but no handles.

Fig. 17 shows the strap handle in perspective.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the device with the long handle and wheels attached.

Fig. 19 is a rear elevation of the same.

The device illustrated in the drawings comprises a light electric motor it having a strap handle I! removably attached thereto, leads Hi to a source of electric power and a toggle switch 19 controlling the flow of current. A drive shaft or belt, not shown, extends from the motor 16 through the housing 2| to the drive shaft 22, which drives the polishing disc 25, as more fully described hereafter. The above device is, ob viously, suited for hand use in the polishing of various surfaces, such as automobile bodies, wood, tile, enamel, etc. The wheel bracket 28 may be fastened to the motor as described hereafter.

The wheel bracket 28 has two rearward extending legs 29 carrying the wheels 30 adapted to perspective view of the end of the v of being sewn, such as 9.

, 3 similar surfaces, and will stand upright by itself when not in use.

As best shown in Fig. 12, the polishing disc 26 is made up of a body comprising material capable layer of felt 32, a layer of canvas 33, and a layer of buckram 34, sewn together by stitches 35 which also fasten to the working face of the disc a fringe 36 of cotton or other material built upon cords 31. The cords 31 and the stitches 35 which join them to the disc and fasten the disc together are arranged spirally, the layers of the disc being superposed and the cords 31 with the fringe 36 being first sewn to the center of the working face of the disc, and proceeding spirally outward therefrom, as shown in Fig. 13. The materials of the various layers of the body of the disc 25 may be varied at will, but in a preferred form a fibrous material such as felt is covered on both sides with a textile material such as canvas, and the top or rear layer is buckram, the buckram and adjacent canvas having the shape of Fig. 14. This shape may be described as a circle 38 having a substantially radial tongue 39 extending therebeyond and having a substantially rectangular longitudinal slit 4i formed therein, the tongue 39 being adapted upon being folded midway of the slit 4! to form a substantially U shaped and central tab 42 integral with the material of the circle 38 and extending perpendicular thereto, as shown in Figure 13. Alternatively, the tab 42 may be formed integral in a piece of buckram or other comparatively stiff and sturdy textile of any desired shape, and the piece may then be incorporated in the disc by means of the threads 35 or fastened thereto in any convenient manner.

The tab gripper 45 is of resilient construction, such as of spring steel, and comprises a rectangular case consisting of the two oppositely disposed and substantially parallel fiat sides 46, 41, with their lower boundaries flared outward slightly, as at 59, the connecting sides 48, 49, and top side to which the square tube 52 is firmly attached; holes 53 being formed in the tube 52 for the passage of a bolt 54, which also passes through the hole 44 in the squared end portion 43 of the drive shaft 22. The shaft 22 also has a left hand threaded portion 23 which the cylindrical skirt 24 engages when in the position of covering and encasing the tab gripper, which is true at all times except when the polishing disc is being changed. The threads 23 run into a shoulder 20, so that skirt 24 cannot screw off the lower end of the threads.

Formed in fiat side 46 is a hollow boss 55 with an outer boundary 63, comprising deep V shaped depressions 56 in its top and bottom peripherally, and shallower V shaped depressions 51 in its sides. The exact shape and location of these depressions is immaterial, their function being to form cam surfaces, the depressions opposite each other peripherally constituting pairs, one pair differing substantially in depth from the other. A bolt or gudgecn 58 extends through the central opening 69 of the boss 55 in side 46, and also through side 41, having a head 59 which engages side 41, and a thumb nut 6i with projections or wings 62 which engage the various cam surfaces of the boss 55. Various constructions of the bolt 58 are possible. The thumb nut 6| may be integral with the shank and the head 59 may be formed by peening, or'the head 59 may be preformed on the shank and the thumb nut 6i may be loose thereon and positioned against outward axial movement by a riveted head, not shown. The tab gripper 45 may be made from flat or corrugated stock, and in the latter case the corrugations aid it in gripping the tab 42.

The means for interchangeably and removably amxing the strap handle 11 and long handle 26, as well as the wheel bracket 28, to motor iii,

are shown in Figures 15 to 19, inclusive. A shoe lug 63 with a rearward facing recess 64 formed therein is integral with or attached by any convenient means to the top central forward portion of motor l6. A lug 66 is integral with or afllxed by its forward end to the top central rear portion of motor I6, and carries a stud 61 pointing upward and carrying a thumbnut 68. Two wings 69 are integral with or fixed on either side of the lower rear portion of motor i6, and carry downward pointing studs 1| and thumbnuts 12.

The forward leg 13 of strap handle I1 carries a substantially V shaped lug 14 with forward facing recess 15 formed therein, and comprising the foot portion 16 adapted to enter the recess 64 and thus engage the shoe lug 63. The rear leg 11 of strap handle I1 carries the substantially U shaped forward pointing slotted lug 18 having the recess 19 formed therein.

Long handle 26 carries at its lower end the curved tube 8| extending substantially tangentially thereto and carrying the pin 82 which is located midway thereof longitudinally and extends diametrally. The tube 81 is slidably mounted on the substantially semicircular tubular ball 83 comprising forward lug 84 with recess 85 and foot 86, and rear lug 88 with recem 39 all identical with the lugs 14 and 18 of strap handle i1 and, constituting long handle 26 interchangeable therewith. Bail 83 is formed with a substantially diametral slot 9! in which the pin 82 slides. A compression coil spring 92 is located in bail 83 to the rear of pin 82 and in compressive engagement therewith.

The bracket 28 is formed with forward facing slots 93 corresponding to the studs 1!. The thumbnuts 12 have collars 94 adapted to engage bracket 28 on either side of slots 93. A light pin 95 extends through th rear end of legs 29 to form an axle for wheels 36.

In operation, the shaft 22, skirt 24 and tab gripper 45 are assembled in manufacture and never need be disassembled. In assembled relation, the skirt 24 can be screwed back off the threads 23 to give access to the tab gripper 45. The position of the gripper 45 in Figures 5 and 9 may be called the loose position thereof, since the wings 62 of the thumbnut 6| are opposite the deep depressions 56 and the fiat sides 46, 41 can move outward, the outer boundary 63 of the boss 55 extending outward beyond the inner boundary of the wings 62, as most clearly shown in Fig. 9, which also shows the head 59 out of contact with the side 41. Due to the looseness of the parts of the gripper 45 in this loose position, and also to the outward flare 50 of the sides 46, 41, the tab 42 of the polishing disc 25 may easily be inserted in the gripper 45. The thumbnut is then turned to the tight position best illustrated in Fig. 10, with the wings 62 resting in the shallow depressions 51. The head 59 is now tight against the side 41 and the two sides 46, 41 are in tight frictional engagement with the tab 42. The skirt 24 is now screwed down to the shoulder 20 and the gripper is completely housed in the smooth cylindrical skirt 24, leaving no projecting parts to catch in clothing when th polisher is operated, for which it is now ready.

It is noteworthy that the only operation necessary in connection with the gripper mechanism is the quarter turn required to tighten or loosen the same, and the screwing and unscrewing of the protective skirt '24, both operations being well within the skill of the housewife and only necessary at long intervals when the polishing disc wears out.

The polisher assembled for hand use is shown in Figure 15. In order to adapt it for floor polishing and the like, the thumbnut 68 is loosened and a backward motion of the strap handle l'l disengages simultaneously foot 16 from recess 64 and lug 18 from stud 67 and thumbnut 68. The motor l6 and strap handle I! then appear separately as in Figures 16 and 17, respectively.

The wheels 39 are then attached by slipping the bracket 28 forward onto th studs II which enter the slots 93 in bracket 28. The thumbnuts 72 are then tightened and their collars 94 engage bracket 28 and clamp it against wings 69. The foot portion 86 of forward ing 84 on long handle 25 is then inserted in recess 64 simultaneously with recess I9 of rear lug l9 engaging the stud 61 and thumbnut 68. Thumbnut 68 is then tightened and the polisher appears as in Figures 2 and 3. In order to polish under tables, chairs. etc., the handle 29 may be depressed against the action of spring 92, and will return to the normal position of Fig. 2 under the action of spring 92 when the downward pressure is relieved.

It is apparent that the specific illustrations shown above have been given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. and that the structures above described are subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the scope or intent of the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Certain features illustrated in the drawings and not claimed herein have been claimed in my copending applications, Serial Numbers 553,545 and D. 115,632.

What is claimed is:

1. A polishing disc comprising, in combination with at least one circular layer of material capabie of being sewn, a further layer composed of relatively stiff and sturdy textile material, said further layer having the shape of a circle comprising a substantially radial tongue extending therebeyond, said tongue having a substantially rectangular longitudinal slit formed therein, said tongue further being folded midway of said slit to form a substantially U shaped and central tab integral with the material of said circle and extending perpendicularly therefrom, all of said layers being sewn together in superposed relation.

2. A fastening device comprising, in combination with a polishing disc comprising a, substantially U-shaped tab extending perpendicularly therefrom, a tab gripper comprising a substantially rectangular casing of resilient construction, said casing comprising. two substantially oppositely disposed and parallel flat sides, one of said sides having formed therein a hollow boss, said boss comprising an outer boundary. said outer boundary having formed therein two pairs of depressions comprising cam surfaces, the deof one pair being deeper than the depressions of the other pair, said gripper further comprising a bolt extending transversely through openings formed in said two flat sides and receivable therein, said bolt comprising a nut portion comprising projections adapted to engage exteriorly said outer boundary of said boss. laid bolt further comprising a head portion adapted to engage exteriorly the other of said sides.

3. A fastening device comprising, in combination with a polishing disc comprising a substantially U shaped tab extending perpendicularly therefrom, a tab gripper compressible from a loose to a tight position and adapted to grip said tab in said tight position, said gripper comprising a casing of resilient construction having two flat portions, connecting side portions and a top portion, the bottom end of said casing being open, one of said flat side portions having formed therein a hollow boss having an outer boundary, said outer boundary being formed with a pair of oppositely disposed relatively deep substantially v shaped depressions, said boundary further being formed with a pair of oppositely disposed relatively shallow substantially V shaped depressions, said gripper further comprising .a bolt extending transversely through openings in said flat sides and revoivable therein and comprising a thumb nut, said thumb nut comprising wings adapted to engage exteriorly said outer boundary, said bolt further comprising a head portion adapted to engage exteriorly said other flat side.

4. A polishing device comprising a gripper, a polishing disc carried by said gripper, a motor driven shaft, a substantially square tube firmly connected to said gripper, the end of said shaft fit into said tube, a screw detachably connecting said tube and said shaft together, screw threads formed on said shaft and a shoulder formed below said screw threads, a cylindrical skirt having screw threads formed therein adapted to engage the threads of said shaft, said skirt being slidable on said shaft above said threads, said skirt further being adapted when threadedly engaged with said shaft to encase said gripper.

5. A polishing disc comprising, in combination with a body portion comprising layers of material rear portion consisting of a relatively still and sturdy textile material, the said rear layer having a tongue integral therewith but partly severed therefrom and extending therebeyond, the said tongue being bent back upon itself to form a U shaped and central tab for the purpose specified.

6. In a polishing device,

a resilient gripper comprising a pair of spaced top wall Joining said side walls, a polishing disc,

. passing through the said on said disc extending between the gripper side walls, said tab having a slot therein, and gripper tightening means gripper sidewalls and GUSTAVE J. SODERBERG.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS tab slot.

Number Name Date 2,291,740 Menkhaus Aug. 4, 1942 2,256,299 Thompson Sept. 16, 1941 2,014,119 Stecker Sept. '10, 1935 1,677,741 Whitaker July 17, 1929 2,214,351 Schlegel Sept. 10, 1940 1,850,731 Sluss Mar. 22, 1932 1,336,078 Hoover Apr. 6, 1920 1,979,527 Bissau-um.

Nov. 9. 1934 apart side walls, a 

